20th Hussars

[Henry Charles]

Hello
I have an ancestor who joined the 20th Hussars in 1858 and was retired on pension in 1878.  I have his discharge papers, which seem to incorporate part of his enlistment documentation.  Does anybody know whether or not details of home address and next of kin were recorded on enlistment way back then and, if they were, are they still available - and of course if they are, where are they?

Many Thanks

Henry Charles

[t mo]

hello henry   and welcome to rootschat ,
if you post his name we,ll have a look for him only if you,ve got his discharge papers any other records will be on find my past
trevor

[Henry Charles]

hello henry   and welcome to rootschat ,
if you post his name we,ll have a look for him only if you,ve got his discharge papers any other records will be on find my past
trevor

Hello Trevor

Many thanks for your message and apologies for my delay - I am new to this site and it has taken me some time to find out how to reply.

My ancestor is Henry Charles Baker, when he joined the 20th Hussars on 31 Jul 1858 he was 20 years and 11 months old - although this would suggest that he was born in 1837 details from other documents indicate that it could have been 1838 or 1839.

I have quite a lot of detail on him including all the census returns from 1882 to 1901 (he died that year and I have his death certificate).  He was born in St Luke Middlesex, which I think is now around the Islington area.  I also have his marriage certificate from Bengal (June 1872) which shows his father;s name as John Baker but gives no occupation.  I have anecdotal information which says that John was or had been a soldier.

I have his army and Chelsea Pension records from TNA.

So, in short, I have quite a lot but I'm blowed if I can find any record of his birth;  his presence on the 1841 census; or his address at enlistment.

If you are able to help I would be most grateful.

Regards

Graham (Henry Charles was just a login name sorry)

[km1971]

Hi Graham

I don't believe you will find what you are looking for in army records. Next of kin information was not recorded on attestation (enlistment) papers until the end of the 19th Century. The soldier's address was not recorded at all.

As you have his parish you would be better off researching the baptism records for St Luke's.

Ken

[Henry Charles]

Hello Ken

Thanks for the advice, you have really confirmed what I have suspected for some time - that I would probably get nowhere with the army records.  I had pursued it because I thought that on attestation (which was several days before reporting for duty) the authorities would have needed to know where to find an individual if they didn't turn up having taken the King's Shilling (well, the Queen's anyway).  Or afterwards who to notify in case of a death in service - or didn't they worry about such niceties way back then?

I have tries St Luke's online but without success.  I shall, as you indicate, probably have to go through the parish records in person when next in London.

Cheerio

Graham